Page 76 - Bugle Spring 2024

ASSOC & WELLBEING
THE RIFLEMAN’S ASSOCIATION (TRA)
The past six month of TRA have been steady at best and the aim of growing branches has been a challenge. Having been in post over a full calendar year, I have been able to attend many local, national and regimental functions, in order to gauge this amongst veterans.
In concert with Col Sam Cates, the Regimental Secretary, and other senior members of the regiment; a more flexible approach is being adopted to achieve serving and veteran Rifleman engagement in the short term. Achieving anything like the traditional paid up and signed up members of a branch, as a yardstick of growth, may be a long-term goal but is not the definitive for now (or for some time).
Having attended a lot of local functions
at grass roots level it is clear that veteran Riflemen continue to engage in varying group sizes up and down the country and always have been, whether ad hoc, at operational tour reunions, local veteran breakfasts, commemorations, regimental events or national veteran events.
To illustrate this; I attended a RIFLES veteran event in the North West and was really encouraged to see over 50 veterans and family in attendance including the family and siblings of a Rifleman KIA in Afghanistan in 2011.
This and all the other localised events attended, belies the slow growth of TRA branches as a picture of perceived apathy; the read out locally is good across much
of the country and encourages our belief that veteran Riflemen continue to engage in healthy numbers and is our main effort to enhance for 2024.
veteran Riflemen continue to engage in varying group sizes up and down the country
GREAT NORTHERN GATHERING: UTILITA ARENA, NEWCASTLE
The NE branch of the TRA pulled together a large event in Newcastle on a sunny day in August. To the team’s credit the event was superbly organised and advertised and it was great to see so many veterans turn up.
Unfortunately, the main event organiser was ill on the day and Bob Roberts, the RIFLES Regional Secretary North stepped in without breaking stride. It was typical of veterans from the North to attend in their numbers, always willing to take part and engage. Our thanks go to the NE branch team for a great effort.
76 RIFLES The Bugle